Mystery as love of Olivia's life vanishes

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Met on set ... Olivia Newton-John and Patrick McDermott in 2001.Photo: Reuters

Olivia Newton John's partner of the past nine years has been
missing for almost two months without the Australian singer and
actor making any public statement.

Patrick McDermott, a 48-year-old American cameraman, has been
missing since July 1, when he failed to return from an overnight
fishing trip on a charter boat off the California coast.

Los Angeles police say McDermott was last seen on a sport
fishing boat which left San Pedro Harbour on June 30. The boat
apparently returned with all crew the next day.

Relatives were concerned when McDermott failed to attend a July
6 family event and called the Coast Guard five days later after
finding his vehicle in the car park of the 22nd Street Marina in
San Pedro.

Personal items, including fishing rods and tackle, belonging to
the father of one were still aboard the boat at the marina.

The Coast Guard issued a statement on August 9 requesting public
help in finding him but did not mention his link to Newton-John,
who divides her time between Los Angeles and Australia.

In London, the News of the World said interviews with the
boat's crew had failed to solve the mystery. It said the Coast
Guard would not speculate on whether McDermott fell overboard or
faked his death.

A Coast Guard investigator, Dennis Nebrich, was not convinced
that the disappearance was an accident. "We have taken statements
from everyone," he said.

"But I can't comment on what they have said. Is there any
suggestion that he might have run away as opposed to have gone
overboard? That's something we're still looking at."

McDermott has a 15-year-old son from a previous
relationship.

Newton-John, 56, has been with McDermott since 1996. The
relationship has received little publicity but it has been reported
that they lived together at her Malibu home. They met on the set of
a television commercial, and she was once quoted as saying: "He's
very romantic; the most romantic person I've ever met."

Last year Mr McDermott expressed his love for Newton-John on the
Nine Network's This is Your Life. "If we could all just be a
little bit like you, we'd all be a little better off," he told her.
"I love you with all my heart."

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